Lawn-mowing machine.



No. 863,576. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

' J. H. AUBLE.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.12,1902.

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ATTORNEY.

n1: NQRRIS PBI'ERs ca, wasmmnou, nv c No. 863,576. PATENTED AUG. 20,1907. J. H. AUBLE.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12.1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W1TNESSES t (IV I v I r 65% INVENTOR. J/wwf @twld UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JAMES H. AUBLE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES J. MCDONALD, AND ONE-THIRD TO I. H.BROMWELL, BOTH OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed December 12,1902. Serial No. 134,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James H. AUBLE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLawn-Mowing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the vari ous advantagesresulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent fromthe following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, and inwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts-Figure 1is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents, in perspective, a part ofeach cutter bar. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the basal platesforming the cutter bar supports. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section ofthe cutter bars and of the knivesand connections. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview of the two knife plates and knives, illustrating a detail ofconstruction. 'Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the spring plate. Fig.7 is a sectional view of the cutter, knife plates and knives and thespring plate in position thereon. Fig. Sis a view of the roller and itsbar for receiving motion from the groove of the drum or hollow wheel.Fig. 9 is a vertical central section of the device shown in Fig. 8. Fig.

10 is a view, in perspective, of the discal plate and its' connections.Fig. 11 is a view, in perspective, of the device for raising andlowering the shaft of the rollers which in front support the cutterknives and their connections. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the center of the mower. Fig. 13 is a view of the adjustingplate secured to the frame of the mower. Fig. 14 is a view inperspective of the adjusting and the adjacent roller, and parts of theknife frame, and of the adjacent ground power roller.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

The basal supporting frame A of the machine consists of the horizontalbase plate A provided with vertical parts A A and with guards A A Theguards perform the well known function of elevating the knives over anyordinary bank or similar obstruction in front of the machine. In someinstances, these guards stop the advance of the machine against a rockor log, etc., before the knives can reach such obstrnc tion. The objectof the guards is primarily to protect the knives.

To each vertical portion A of the frame is duly fixed, usually by bolts,a plate B preferably discal in outline, as shown. This plate carries ajournal bearing B adapted to receive a shaft C. As each support A carmain part or shank D of the handle.

ries a plate B, there are two plates B. The shaft C is thus at each endsupported in a journal bearing B of its adjacent plate B. These platesB, B, carry the handle D. The latter has a bifurcated portion preferablyconsisting of the arms D D The handle may be in one with these arms orseparate as shown. In the latter event, these arms will be duly fixed tothe The lower part only of this shank D is shown in Fig. 1. The lowerend of each arm D engages with the adjacent plate B, preferably asshown, namely: a pin B fixed to the plate is received in a hole at D inthe arm. A key B (which is the preferred means of fastening the handlein place on the disk) is passed through an opening in the end of the pinand thus the arm D is held securely between the plate B and the key BThe handle is free to oscillate on the pins B as pivots. The extent ofoscillation of the handle is controlled by means of a lug D on the arm Dbecause this lug is received into an areal slot or recess B in the plateB. Thus the handle is free to oscillate a given distance, namely: enoughto allow the handle to conveniently be held by men of different heights,while operating the machine.

Each end of the shaft C extends through the adjacent bearing B and outbeyond. tion, the shaft receives the hub E of the wheel or drum E. Theouter face of each wheel E at a given part is recessed and at the hubthere a set screw E is screwed through the hub and against or into theshaft, so as to set the shaft and the hub as one. Thus the drums E arefixed to the shaft C and turn therewith. At the same time as the shaftturns freely within the bearings B neither the disks B, nor the handle Din any-wise interfere with the rotation of the drums.

Each of the drums carries internally and near its circumference anendless groove or channel E", which alternately extends first to oneside and then to the other side of the drum. In each groove E, is aroller F carried by a rod or bar F, slidable back and forth in aguideway B of the disk plate B. This bar F has at its rear end a slot oropening F A slot B in the lower side of the guideway allows the roller Fon the pivot F fixed in the bar F to pass back and forth with themovement of its bar F without interruption. To hold the bar F down, andyet enable it to be reciprocated without friction, I provide a roller Brotating on or with a shaft sup.- ported in end supports B B In each ofthe slots F is received the upper end of an arm. One of these arms isattached to the plate which operates the upper row of knives and theother arm is attached to the plate which operates the lower or under rowof knives. In the present illustrative example, the arm G at the lefthand, Fig. 1, is connected to the upper knife or cutter On this outerpor-.

plate H, and the arm G at the right hand, is connected to the lowerknife plate K. The connection between each arm and its plate ispreferably made by the screws G "his mode of connecting each arm G toits bar F allows the bar to work freely at all times and prevents anychange of inclination of the arm from causing the bar F to bind in itsguideway B The lower knife plate K rests upon the base plate A and theupper knife plate H rests upon the knife plate K. Upon the upper knifeplate H is located the top plate L.

I form the plates A, K, H and L so as they shall not slide laterally onone another. Thus I form on the upper side of the plate A, longitudinalridges Z of an inverted V-shape, in cross section, and on the under sideof the plate K, I form longitudinal grooves Z of a V-shape in crosssection. These grooves Z respectively receive the ridges Z of the plateA. In like mannor, the upper side of the plate K has longitudinal ridgesZ and the under side of the plate H grooves Z and the ridges Zrespectively engage the sides of the grooves Z So again, the upper sideof the plate H has ridges Z and the under side of the securing plate Lhas grooves Z respectively receiving the ridges Z of the plate H. Thustogether the ridges and grooves afford means of securely holding therespective plates A, B, H and L in position relative to one another.

The top securing plate L is connected to the basal plate A by bolts M,or rivets, preferably the former. These bolts M pass through the platesH, K, and are fixed in and to the basal plates A. By this means, thesecuring plate L is not only thoroughly secured to the basal plate A,but the intervening knife plates are also held between plate L and thebasal plate A. Insomuch as these plates cannot separate, the grooves andridges aforementioned hold the plates securely against slippinglaterally out of position. As the plates H and K are slidable back andforth in the direction of their length, I provide in each of them longslots S. When the plates H and K are at their mid stroke, the bolt Mwhich passes through these plates and through said slots will be at themidlength of the slots. Thus these slots permit the longitudinalmovement of the plates K and H Without interfering with the bolt.

The means for holding the knives in position are as follows: The lowerknife N is set into a depression K in the front edge of the plate K inan inclined position substantially as shown in Fig. 4 and is fixedtherein by a suitable connection, preferably screws N The upper knife Pis located in recess H and rests upon the lower knife and is slidablethereon. This upper knife P is compelled to move with the plate H bymeans of studs P each one secured to the plate P and passing up througha loosely fitting hole H in the plate H. The plate H does thuscommunicate its lateral motion to the knife P and at the same time theknife P is allowed to rest at all times closely'upon the knife N withoutstrain.

In order to keep the knife P at all times close down upon the knife Nand prevent its being separated therefrom, by reason of any substancethe knives are cutting, slipping between the knives, and furthermore toinsure a more perfect cut by the knives, I provide a spring R secured onthe under side of the plate L, and secured by screws as R into the plateH. The forward end of this spring rests elastically hard upon the upperknife P and holds the front end of the latter hard down upon the lowerknife N. The rear end of the knife P is securely held in positionagainst the knife N by means of the set screw T screwed through plate Hand down upon the rear or back edge of the knife P. Thus the knives areheld elastically close together and perform their function of cuttingwith great accuracy and promptness.

Each roller V is mounted on a shaft V The height of these rollers abovethe ground should be varied according to the height above the ground atwhich the grass, etc., is to be cut. To accomplish this purpose, Iprovide two of the devices shown in Fig. 11, viz:W indicates a plate,provided with a slot W a hub W and lower hole W This plate is secured toits adjacent upright frame piece A by a screw W which latter through thehole W connects this plate to the frame A The shaft V passes through thehub W. The set screw W is in the slot W and is screwed to the framepiece. The slot W permits the plate W to be oscillated, and the heightof the cutting blades above the ground to be varied. By this set screw,the desired position of the plate W is maintained, and so also is thedesired position of the roller V relatively to the cutting blades.

The mode in which my invention operates is, in general, as follows, viz:The machine is supported by the rollers V, V, at front and by the largedrums E, F, at the rear. The machine is moved forward, and the rollersand drums revolve. grooves E communicate a reciprocating movement to therollers F F and each of these through the agency of its bar Fcommunicate a reciprocatory motion to its arms G, G The latter moves itsknife plate or bar back and forth'. Thus the series of knives on therespective knife plates move back and forth, the upper set in adirection opposite to the lower set. Thus the knives after the manner ofshears, cut the grass, etc., which they come into contact with.

Some of the advantages of my machine have been already specified. Otheradvantages are obvious.

The ridges Z and grooves Z may be reversed relatively to the parts whichnow carry them.

What I claim as new, and of my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E", bar Fprovided with roller F engaging the sides of said groove, a guideway forthe bar F, this bar F having a slot F an arm fitting in slot F", and aknife plate connected with said arm, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

2. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E bar F providedwith roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guide for bar F, thelatter provided with a slot F", an arm fitting in slot F and a knifeplate connected with said arm, and the friction saving roller B locatedto bear on the bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E", bar Fprovided with roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guideway forbar F, the bar F having a slot F an arm fitting in slot F and a knifeplate in connection with said arm, the disk B, carrying this guideway,and the friction saving roller B located at the guideway and adapted tobear upon the bar F, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4; In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E bar F providedwith a roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guideway for bar F,this bar F having a slot F, an arm fitting in the slot F a knife platein connection with said arm; the disk B, carrying this guideway,

The drums, by means of the and the friction saving roller B, located atthe guideway and adapted to bear upon the bar F, at the midlength of theguideway, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

The combination of the disk B, the horizontal frame with the verticalflange mounted thereon, the spindle, a roller thereon, a plate having ahub receiving the spindle, and located against the outer side of saidvertical flange, a pivotal bolt in the plate, the plate having a slot onthe other side of the spindle from where the pivotal bolt is located, aset screw in said slot, the bolt and the screw being connected to thesaid vertical flange, the guideway connected to said disk B, areciprocating bar working in said guideway, this bar passing through thedisk, the cutter bar, the bar intermediate between the reciprocating barand the cutter bar and engaged thereby, means for reciprocating thesebars, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

(S. The combination of the horizontal frame A, with the vertical flangeA mounted thereon, the spindle V-, roller V thereon, plate W having hubW receiving the spindle V and located against. the outer side of theflange A of the frame, pivotal bolt W in the plate, the plate having aslot W and set screw W in said slot, the bolt W and screw W beingconnected to portion A the guideway B connected to the disk B, disk B,reciprocating bar F in part located in the disk and working in saidgnideway, the cutter blade the bar G for operating the cutter blade, andengaged by the bar F, roller B connected to disk B and bearing on thebar F, and a revolving wheel provided with a groove extendingalternately back and forth, the bar F having a roller F this groovereceiving the last namedroller, substantially as and for the purposesspecitied.

7. The combination of the horizontal frame A, with the vertical flangeportion A mounted thereon, the spindle Y roller V thereon, plate Whaving hub W receiving the spindle V and located against the outer sideof the flange A of the frame, pivotal bolt W in the plate, the platehaving a slot W, and set screw W in said slot, the bolt W and screw Wbeing connected to portion A the guideway B connected to the disk B,disk B, reciprocating bar F in part located in the disk and working insaid guideway, the cutter blade the bar G for operating the cutter bladeand engaged by the bar F, and a revolving wheel provided with a grooveextending alternately back and forth, the bar F having a roller F thisgroove receiving the last named roller, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

8. In a mower, the combination of a shaft, a ground wheel concentrictherewith and having a peripheral face to meet the ground, andinteriorly provided with a cam groove or channel curved back and forth,and carrying at its center a bearing E receiving the shaft, means forsetting it there, a reciprocating bar having a roller re ceived intosaid groove, a reciprocating cutter, means bctween the cutter and thereciprocating bar for reciproeating the cutter, a disk B concentric withthe ground wheel and interfitting within its periphery and hung on theshaft, but stationary and supporting a guideway for directing themovement of the reciprocating bar, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

9. In a cutting machine, the power ground wheels, each containing achannel extending alternately to the one side and then to the other sideof the wheel, a cutter bar frame, the side extensions of the said cutterbar frame respectively located in front of the ground wheels, disks B,each located at the inner side of its ground wheel and supported on themain axle, driving mechanism between the power ground wheels and thecutting knives projecting into said channels, the cutter bar frameprovided with vertical pieces A A the latter connected to the innersides of the said disks, guards A A and the rollers V, connected to theframe at the outer sides of the frame pieces A and located between theadjacent ground wheels and the side extension of the cutter bar frame,and inside the line of its adjacent guard A substantially as and for thepurposes specified 10. In a cutting machine, the power ground wheels,each provided with the channel or groove, extending alternately to theone side and then to the other side of the wheel, a cutter bar frame,the side extensions of the said cutter bar frame respectively located infront of the ground wheels, disks B, each located at the inner side ofits ground wheel and journaled on the main axle, driving mechanismbetween the power ground wheels and the cutting knives engaging thesides of said channels, the cutter bar frame provided with verticalpieces A A the latter connected to the iner sides of the said disks, andthe rollers V at the outer sides of frame pieces A and located betweenthe adjacent ground wheels and the side extensionsof the cutter barframe, and the plates W, having curved slots W connected to the outersides of the pieces A and also connected to said pieces A by the pivotalbolts W and provided with the hubs W midway between the slots W and thepivots and the shafts V on which are mounted the rollers V,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JAMES H. AUBLE. Attest:

CHARLES A. MIN'rEN, K. SMITH.

